No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force

No 43 Squadron was formed on the 15th of April 1916 at Stirling. They proceeded to France in January 1917 as an Army reconnaissance squadron. After undertaking the first ground attack mission against enemy troops in June 1917, this became their primary function.
The Squadron formed part of the army of occupation in Germany but was disbanded in December 1919. It was re-formed at Henlow in 1925 as a fighter squadron. At the outbreak of war in 1939 the Squadron was flying Hurricanes from RAF Tangmere.

18th Nov 1939 Moved to the North

18th Jan 1940 Mid-air collision

30th Jan 1940 Two bombers shot down

3rd Feb 1940 Bomber brought down

26th Feb 1940 Move to Scapa Flow

16th Aprl 1940 Lost on patrol

31st May 1940 Return to Tangmere

7th June 1940 Ground attack

13th July 1940 Battle of Britain

19th July 1940 Battle of Britain

20th July 1940 Battle of Britain

21st July 1940 Battleof Britain

29th July 1940 Battle of Britain

8th August 1940 Convoy attacked

13th August 1940 Eagle Day

14th August 1940 Airfields attacked

15th Aug 1940 Eagle Day

16th August 1940 Aftermath of Eagle Day

26th August 1940 Battle of Britian

30th August 1940 Battle of Britain

Sept 1940 Indian Pilots drafted in

2nd Sept 1940 Battle of Britain

4th September 1940 Battle of Britain

5th September 1940 Battle of Britain

7th Sept 1940 Battle of Britain

8th Sept 1940 Return to the north

12th Dec 1940

4th Oct 1941 Relocated

12th October 1941 Mid-air collision

16th June 1942 On the Move

19th August 1942 Dieppe Raid

19th Aug 1942 Dieppe Raid

1st Sept 1942 Operations

28th Oct 1942 On the Move

8th Nov 1942 Operation Torch

9th November 1942 Airfield attacked

February 1943 Conversion

13th March 1943 On the Move

13th May 1943 Into Tunisia

June 1943 On the Move

14th July 1943 In Support

Sept 1943 Relocation

July 1944 In Support

21st August 1944 Move

October 1944 In Support

September 1945

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Those known to have served with
No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Barrow. Hector Jack . Sgt Pilot
Brown Martin Kenneth. Flt.Sgt.
Cummings Alexander McKay. F/Lt. (d.11th Nov 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

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Want to know more about No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force?

There are:2045 items tagged No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.

Sgt Pilot Hector Jack "Raymond " Barrow.

Hector Barrow served with 607 (County of Durham), 43 (China-British) and 213 (Ceylon) Squadrons. He was born in Isle worth, Middlesex, son of Alfred Hector Henry and Edith Ethel Barrow, joined the RAFVR (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) in April 1939 as an Airman under training Pilot. He was called up on Sept 1 st 1939 and with training completed, he joined 607 Squadron at RAF Usworth in June 1940. In late July he was posted to 43 Squadron at RAF Tangmere and was attached to 6 Operational Training Unit (at RAF Sutton Bridge) for training from August 3 to August 24. He transferred on September 20 to 213 Squadron, which was also based at RAF Tangmere.
On September 27 Barrow claimed a share in destroying a Bf 110. He was reported Missing following a Wing patrol with 602 Squadron over RAF Tangmere on November 28th. His aircraft Hurricane Mk l (RAF Serial Number V6691) was shot down by a Bf109 of JG51 at 15:10 into the sea off Bognor on 28th November 1940. Barrow s body was washed up on the French coast. He is buried in Colleville-sur-Mer Churchyard, Calvados, France. He was 21 when he died.
Hawker Hurricane Mk I V6691 was one of 500 delivered between August 1940 and January 1941 by Gloster Aircraft, Hucclecote, to Contract No. B.85730/ 40. Serving with 213 Squadron it would have been coded AK-? (? indicates that the individual code letter is unknown). This aircraft had previously served with 253 Squadron.

Paul McMillan

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F/Lt. Alexander McKay Cummings 43 Squadron (d.11th Nov 1944)

I am doing a search for the municipality of Vigonza, a small village at nort east of Padua, about soldier dead in the area during the 2 WW, with the aim to make a book for remember them on next 25th April. Checking the municipality archive, I found a letter (see attachment) dated 11th november 1944, regarding a english pilot crashed on 11th november 1944 at 13 oclock after a fighting. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission comunicated me that in Padua War Cemetry is buried one pilot dead on 11th november 1944, that is: Casualty: Flight Lieutenant Alexander McKay Cumming, 128858
Served With: 43 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died: 11th November 1944, Commemorated: Padua War Cemetery, Italy Plot III. Row F. Grave 14. Additional Information: Age 21 Son of Alexander and Louisa J. Cummings, of Falkirk, Stirlingshire. Dux Medallist of Larbert Central School, 1937.
But Commonwealth War Graves Commission dont hold any information on where and how Commonwealth war casualties died. Therefore with these information about pilot Cummings I am not sure he is the pilot Im looking for, infact. He could be captured same day before and not really shot down on 11th November 1944. Looking RAF museum website I see that exists a book regarding pilots dead in 2ndWW but is not advantageous to buy it only to give some information about one pilot. I wish know if he was realy shot down in Padua area on 11th november 1944 arround 13 oclock, what fighter he used (I think it is a Spitfire IX), what shot him down and other information you can have to verify if they match with Vigonza municipality archive letter.

Fabio Chinellato

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No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

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The Wartime Memories Project - No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.